RussianPoleVaulterHanded2-YearDopingBan

The Russian Athletics Federation said Tuesday it has banned a pole vaulter for two years after he tested positive for steroids.

MOSCOW, April 16 (R-Sport) – The Russian Athletics Federation said Tuesday it has banned a pole vaulter for two years after he tested positive for steroids.

Ivan Gertlein, who won team bronze at the Russian championships in Sochi last year, failed a drug test on October 15, 2012 and was suspended from competition a few weeks later by the country's anti-doping agency.

Federation officials said Gertlein had elevated levels of the testosterone booster DHEA. The 25-year-old’s ineligibility is backdated to October 31, 2012, and ends October 30, 2014.

Gertlein has a personal best of 5.55 meters, and is ranked by the athletics federation as Russia’s ninth-best vaulter. He placed 11th in the individual national championship last year.